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When: Oct. 18, 19, 20, 25 and 27. Doors open at 7 p.m. and show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $10 for adults, $8 for students and $7 for high school students with an associated student body card. Thursday night shows are $5 for students

Information: 530-621-4002 ext. 4605

EL DORADO — Will Van Deusen loves to sink his teeth into leading roles.

A Union Mine High School senior who has been involved in the school’s drama department since he was a freshman, Van Deusen is playing the lead role in play of “Dracula.”

Last spring, he played Otto Von Brunno in “Bullshot Cummond.”

“He’s a creepy guy,” Van Deusen, 17, joked about Dracula.

This frightening vampire play is based on the novel by Bram Stoker written in 1897. The plot takes place in 1462 in London, England as residents come to realize a monster lives in their midst, looking to spread destruction amongst all levels of society.

Flashbacks reveal the source of the danger coming from Transylvania, spreading across England, and focusing on a group of people who realizing the danger, take arms against the scourge.

Famous vampire

“He’s the most famous vampire there is,” Van Duesen said.

Kayla Warner has enjoyed the fine arts since she was in sixth grade, watching plays at the school.

“I always thought the shows were great,” said Warner, 17. “I always looked up to the people in them.”

Assistant director

For most of the last three years, Warner has performed in front of audiences. Now a senior, Warner’s sixth show will be working behind the scenes as an assistant director for “Dracula.”

“It’s a whole new prospective being on the other side of the curtain,” said Warner about her first experience directing. “I have to be constantly paying attention that the actors are getting their characters portrayed to the audience.”

Pete Miller, Union Mine’s drama teacher and the play’s director said, “Many adaptations of Dracula have found their way to the stage, but this version is notable for its faithfulness to the original novel and utilizes stage devices to the audience to propel the action.”

Stephanie Lemon, a junior, plays Mina Harker. She described her character as a “self-confident” person who stands by her man, Jonathan Harker, played by Kevin Ralphs.

Intense relationship

“Somethings are withheld from her, which threatens her life,” Lemon said. “She has a really intense relationship with all the characters.”